My life was changed dramatically at the
age of 16. I had my first summer job and had saved my money to buy
a D.J. set. My mom helped me with the ends and I was on my way. I
had just turned 17 on November 12, 1982. It was Friday night and
some friends and I were throwing a jam and as we were bringing my new D.J.
set down the stairs in the hallway 2 guys that I knew pulled out a gun
and robbed us. They took my turntables and shot my friend, Cook,
in the foot. I tried to talk to them but they weren't trying to hear
me. When they ran out the hallway I ran up the stairs and got my brothers.
(Now there were 10 of us with one sister.) I am the third youngest.
As I told my family what had happened my Mom said, "Call the Police."
(someone did.) When they came they took me for a ride around to see
if I could spot them. (We did not.)
So on the next weekend there was a jam in our center. As I got
there 2 friends of mine told me that T and Boo were inside. I ran
home to get my brothers. As we returned the cops were there. Cook
had been in the jam and saw them first. He went and got the cops.
He told the cops that they had robbed me and shot him in the foot.
We all were put in the police cars and taken to the police station. They
told me that I would have to appear in court, I believe it was a grand
jury hearing. Man, they treated me like I was the robber. They
showed me different pictures and tried to confuse me. I knew who
they were and I picked the right ones.
Some how they beat the charge and were freed.
Now this is where things went crazy. (word is bond.) The 2 guys
that robbed me came around my projects and beat up Cook and were looking
for me. They had a crew of guys with them. I was at work at the
S.M.L. Warehouse and my friends came and got me. When I got there
they wanted to fight one on one, "Yes." the both of them. My family
and friends was like Rodney, kick their asses, good. (smile) Things were
even. I fought Boo first because he was bigger than me. I did
him so good that when he asked his crew for his gun, they robbed him. (honestly)
T was so scared he sent someone to get his family. When we
were about to fight his Mom came and said that I was too beg so when my
Mom told her that he isn't too big to rob me. His mom said, "Well,
kick his ass." (word is bond) (smile) But we didn't fight. He
said he would bring me or buy me a new turntable and Boo said the same. I
never got it but my reputation now was you're the man.
That didn't last long. The next year, well I'll put it like
this, weeks later me and 2 other friends did a robbery and was sent to jail
with a 3 to 9. That's one way to begin a reputation and my non belief
in the justice system.
Yes, I did the crime and I did the time. Was I wrong? Yes.
Why? Because my reputation wasn't about being a robber. It
was about helping the weak and strengthening our community. From
the time I was 8 years old I've been chasing pocket book snatchers and
helping people move into the building. I've moved in 80% of my building
and I would only fight the bullies in the project. Our crew was called
"The Grant Seven." We lived in Building 7 and we started with 7 people.
We grew very fast and large.
The 3 years I got for the robbery was like a joke. It was as if I
were in summer camp. There weren't many programs so I spent a lot of
my time working out. I came in jail weighing 120 pounds and I left weighing
185 pounds.
When I got home the Grant Seven was stronger. Many of the guys went
into the Army and some of them became head drug dealers. The ones
that were still for the cause (Which was protecting our community.)
They were happy to about my return. They put me on point of who,
what and where things were happening. The ones who had the get rich
fast plans were also glad I was home. (And I found out why real fast.)
I was home for three and a half years. Things were going good for
me. My girlfriend at that time was Robin. We were having a baby.
(My son LeVone) Money became a problem. I was working and reporting
to my P.O. I had two different P.O.s. The first was a female.
She would help me with many problems or troubles I got into. When
they switched on me things got out of control. I was home one and
a half years with no police contact, no drugs and working hard. This
lawyer was a real MF. He came to my job demanding where I was.
It was about 12:40 pm, lunch time, a friend took me to White Castles.
When I got back I was fired. The boss was upset because the my P.O.
accused him of false employment. He told me that my P.O. was there and that
he would be at my house until 5:00 p.m. If I don't show up he'll arrest
my boss. Man, I went home as quickly as possible. I know that
I didn't do anything wrong. I got home in 20 minutes top. He
was in front of my building.
When I asked him what was the rush all about he stated that I was lying
to him and that the job I had was not my job. He told me to report to
his office the next day and he was going to violate me. I told him,
"Arrest me now." He said, "Just report in." I did.
When I got there the head P.O. was in his office. The two of them
were not on the same page. I asked my P.O. why did he get me fired from
my job and the senior P.O. asked why too. He tried to make up some
story but the head didn't fall for it so he took my piss and made me stay
hand cuffed in the waiting room. When the test results came back clean
he let me go. I laughed in His face but I was out of a job.
As time went on I started cutting hair for the kids in my projects. Right
in front of the building. (I'm good at it) (word) As I said
money became a problem. The Grant Seven was a paid job, so one of
the old members came around looking for me. He heard I was on work
release and he didn't want to mess that up for me. (That is what he told
me) (smile).
He was large in the drug game. He took me on a ride to Staten Island.
We were talking about back in the days when we would fight and people
would say, "That's the Grant Seven." When I told him that things were
looking bad for me he said, "That's why I came to see you." I was
like word. He took me shopping for clothes and put about $800.00 in
my pocket. I was like, oh thank you.
He said if I wanted to work for him that I can make $1,000.00 every weekend.
I told him that I can't sell drugs and he said that I would not be selling
drugs but watching the workers to make sure they don't tap the work. I
ask him to give me time to think about it and he said it was all right. It
did not take me long to make the wrong decision. I beeped him and
he called right back. In a week I was standing in these projects in
Staten Island watching the worker work. Hand to hand.
The first week was good and then like maybe eight months or so things got
wild. It was a holiday, I think Labor Day . My family was cooking
outside and having fun. I was talking to my girl and I looked up and
saw Ten Speeds girl friend walking up the walkway. I told my girl
that I would be right back. Ten Speed was my friend name. When
I got to her she said, "You've got to come with me. They are going
to kill Ten Speed if you don't show up." I told her to be cool and
tell me what happened. Another head dealer said that Ten Speed brought
me out to Staten Island to rob his father and shoot him. I needed help.
I got a team together and we went to get Ten Speed. Things turned
out to be a mistake an a new friendship started.
I thought that as long as I don't touch the drugs I'll be all right. Boy
was I wrong. TNT. A police unit arrested me and the dealers
on a buy-n-bust. I had no money or drugs on me but I was on parole
and out of my neighborhood.
When we got to court a lawyer that I had 15 cracks and $10.00 on me. I
pleaded to a 4 to 8. This was my second bit. (word) Just for
watching drug being sold and not telling on the dealer. I was back in
jail.
4 to 8 years for standing around a drug dealer. I was a fool but this
was truly a learning experience. I started in maximum security and
worked my way to minimum security. I’ve participated in many programs
from small engine repair, custodial maintenance to Carpentry and welding.
I was also in programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous
(NA), Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) and Aggression Replacement
Training (ART). Not trying to be funny but in the correctional facility
some of these programs are jokes.
The parole board may or may not accept these programs and that is why I said
not to be funny because if you get keep-lock of SHU, you have to take these
programs again. Small example, if you were walking the halls and a C.O. said,
“Hey ass hole, come here!” and you did not get disrespectful, and you explain
that your name is not ass hole, he writes you up a misbehaving report for
refusing a direct order. This charge is unbeatable. You pay a
mandatory $5.00 and you are keep-lock until your hearing. After you
lose the hearing all programs like AA, NA, RSAT and ART have to be repeated.
To be honest drug use has never played a part in my in my life. Yes,
I’ve tried weed, coke and drinking but I did not use them. (Word is Bond)
I took these programs because I had a drug case and wanted to make my first
parole board. Yes, I did make it too. I’ve broken records. I was the
only inmate to receive a furlough and work release from Sing-Sing.
They say I was the first in 30 years at the facility.
Believe me that it was hard to do. I went on two furloughs, one for
three days and another for four days. Then I was
moved to work release. I stayed on work release for about a year and
a half before I was released on August 16th. For the year and a half
I worked for Meals on Wheels. I never had a police contact and never
came in late. Now, as I stay at my mother’s house for furlough my neighborhood
was crack-out. There were many gunshots. Parents were scared to sit
on benches and the kids would drop to the ground when they heard a car backfire,
scared that someone was shooting.
I felt that it was my duty to make things better. I met the Big Man,
Head Dealer. He was young but very respectable. To be honest
I was told that he saved my little brother’s life. Rest in Peace Anthony
Tylick Littles.
My brother, Ty, was being jumped by some other dealers. He was in a
coma for three months and lost his voice box. I was in jail but Ty
lived and started using drugs. When I came home on work release he went into
the program. I wasn’t far from where the jail was and visited him every
day. We are very close.
Well as I talked to The Man (Head Dealer) we had a very good understanding
and comment goal. Help the kids. He moved the drugs out of the
building and we started security teams. Some of his people liked it
and some did not.
We had started many sports events. (Basketball, football, jump rope,
volley ball and taking the kids to the community center again. That
is when the trouble happened. One day a very good friend came around
to visit and as he was going home he stepped off of the elevator and was
shot in the head. (I believe that you can understand what was happening.)
This is where my problems started.
There were lots of fights and shoot outs but I let my reputation go too far.
I knew I that my girlfriend was sleeping around so I put myself in a very
big problem. I met a girl that knew a lot about me.
One day we had a basketball game and I made the winning shot. As we were
celebrating the girl I met was watching-n-smiling. When we got back
to the building I told her that I wanted to see her. We stayed on the
staircase for a long time. Then I went to my girl friends house. (Another
Project). I stayed the weekend.
When I came back around my house these two guys I knew say, “The police are
looking for you.”
I was confused but I know that I didn’t do anything wrong. One of the
guys I knew did not like me. I had to kick his ass a few months ago
and the other was the head dealer’s right hand man. They laughed and
I took at as a joke.
The next day I went to my parole officer and everything was alright.
The next weekend came around and it was our community day so I went to the
park where they were having events. Our project was going to play basketball
and one of the community leaders threw me a T-shirt. (Number 4)
He said that we’ll be playing soon so don’t go far. I played the game
and we won.
I was asked to judge a jump rope contest. I told them yes but I wanted
to go to the store. So me and a friend walked to the store and when
we returned the cops were there. As we walked past a girl that I knew
said, “I think its number 4.” I looked at her and the cops said, “Come
with us.” I began to refuse but when I saw the community coming to
my aid I didn’t want people to get hurt. They radioed for back up real
quick. I told them to be kool and I went with the cops.
I thought that we were going to the precinct but they took me to a store
in the neighborhood. They told me to get out of the car and as I did
the cop’s radio said. “Affirm.” They pulled their guns and told me
I was under arrest. I said, “For what.” They said, “You know.”
(I did not.) When I got to the station the D.T.s and the assistant
D.A. said, “Do you want to make a video?” I asked, “For what?”
They took my T-shirt and checked my body. Then they said, “Open your
mouth.” I did and they said, “That’s him.”
I asked again, “What did I do?” They were called out of the holding
room and a cop told me that my friends-n-family was outside for support.
I asked him if he knew what was going on and he said, “You don’t know?” and
he had tears in his eyes. Now I got really upset and said, “Tell me.”
He said, “You are being charged with rape.” I couldn’t believe it.
He said, “Don’t tell them I told you.” I said, “Alright.” I started
to go crazy.
They let my brother and girl friend come in and they told me too. I
was being arrested for rape but the crazy thing was who.
When the D.A. and D.T.s came back in they wanted information about two killings
in my project. They showed me a picture of my friend and another one
of a kid I knew. But I didn’t know anything. The D.A. said, “If
you can’t help me, I can’t help you. August 22nd and I have never seen
the street again. My bid is 7 to 14. This is where I truly learn about
the Injustice System.
More to come.
© Copyright 2002 Rodney Littles
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